Japan’s World Cup Team Struggles to Gain Respect at Home

Japan reached last-minute deal to broadcast Women’s World Cup
Broad inequality in Japan continues to undermine women’s sport

Haruna Takata, chairperson of WE League, speaks during the interview in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, July 13, 2023.Photographer: Kosuke Okahara/Bloomberg

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By Daiki MAI and Isabella Steger

July 17, 2023 at 10:00 PM UTC

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The head of Japan’s professional female football league said support for women’s sports still lags behind other countries, even as global interest is rising.

Haruna Takata, who chairs the two-year-old WE League, came into the spotlight recently when she floated an idea to start a crowdfunding campaign to fund the broadcast rights to avoid a TV blackout for the upcoming Women’s World Cup.